HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Town Board Study Session 2024-09-24September 24, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Board Room
5:15 p.m. Dinner
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Public comment is not typically heard at Study Sessions, but may be allowed by the Mayor with agreement of a
majority of the Board.
This study session will be streamed live and available at www.estes.org/videos
5:30 p.m. Use of 6E Funds for Tuition Assistance. (Manager Bangs)
6:00 p.m. Noise Ordinance.
(Town Administrator Machalek and Town Attorney Kramer)
6:35 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Items.
(Board Discussion)
6:40 p.m. Comments & Questions.
6:45 p.m. Adjourn for Town Board Meeting.
Informal discussion among Trustees concerning agenda items or other Town matters may occur before this
meeting at approximately 5:00 p.m.
AGENDA
TOWN BOARD
STUDY SESSION
TOWN ADMINISTRATION Report
To: Honorable Mayor Hall
Board of Trustees
Through: Town Administrator Machalek
From: Carlie Bangs, Housing and Childcare Manager
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
RE: Use of 6E Funds for Tuition Assistance
Purpose of Study Session Item:
Provide direction to staff for the future allocation of 6E funds for tuition assistance
programming to support the affordability of childcare.
Town Board Direction Requested:
Direction on whether to pursue the collaborative expansion, development, and funding
of a middle-income tuition assistance program and allocation of 6E funds through an
augmented partnership with the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County.
Present Situation:
Tuition Assistance has been prioritized within the framework of 6E funding and is key to
stabilizing and building childcare capacity within the Estes Valley. As outlined in the
recently finalized Childcare Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan (page 21), Goal 3
addresses the need to “develop a layered funding model for providers that will cover the
full cost of providing care.” Through efficiently layered subsidies and tuition assistance
programs, childcare providers will increase revenue by charging tuition closer to the
actual cost of care. Strategy 3A outlines this in more detail:
To support all families and providers, it is important to maximize resources by
efficiently layering the available funding sources. The United States Department
of Health and Human Services uses 7% of a household’s income as an
affordability benchmark for parent co-payments. It is recommended that the
resources get as close to this benchmark as possible. For some families, this
may mean they can pay full tuition. For others, one program may cover the
necessary amount, and for others, a combination of funding sources will be
needed.
As the recipient of the Local Financing for Early Childhood Education grant from the
Buell Foundation, the Town has a unique opportunity to cost-model and develop a
program that fills in the gap of assistance services to meet this strategy, as well as
increase the eligibility of assistance programs to serve middle-income working families.
The Town Board approved the grant contract with the Buell Foundation in July and the
Town has one year to spend the $50,000 award. Based on the direction provided by the
Town Board, the Town will proceed with the proposed next steps for that grant to hire a
consultant for detailed cost modeling and program development.
Proposal:
Staff have been working collaboratively with local and regional organizations for the
past year to seek ways to leverage and efficiently distribute 6E funds toward tuition
assistance programs. The objectives outlined for the future of tuition assistance
programs are as follows:
•Stabilize the families that currently need tuition assistance and would normally rely upon
CCAP
•Increase efficiency in the application process and develop a more streamlined process
for administering assistance
•Increase collaboration and communication with CCAP/LCCF
•Decrease administrative costs for local assistance
•Pursue the utilization of the existing online platform, Bridgecare, that ECCLC uses to
administer the LCCF assistance program
For the past two years, EVICS Family Resource Center has been the recipient of 6E
funds for tuition assistance programs. EVICS provides an assistance program for low-
income households, or households needing emergency assistance or assistance
through hardship. Their program is complementary to the Colorado Childcare
Assistance Program (CCAP) and the Larimer County Childcare Fund (LCCF). EVICS
received $100,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2024 to support local families. The increase
in funds in 2024 was due to the CCAP funding freeze that began in February 2024. As
an established assistance program, local families and childcare providers have had the
opportunity to receive stable support through the funding freeze. Staff recommends
continued funding to EVICS Family Resource Center to support their existing framework
of assistance, .
In addition to meeting the first objective through the services provided at EVICS Family
Resource Center, our community must address the longer-term needs of residents and
those of middle-income working families. The existing Larimer County Childcare Fund
(LCCF) was established to serve households with an income greater than what CCAP
supports. LCCF is available to Estes Park families but has not had the funding to serve
many families in the valley as it is privately funded through United Way of Larimer
County.
The program, administered by the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County, has the
existing and widely used framework needed to meet our local objectives. Through
collaboration with ECCLC, the Town can build upon the existing platform and allocate
grant funds to increase the eligibility of middle-income working families to receive
assistance. Some adjustments within the BridgeCare platform may be needed as we
inject new, local funding to better serve the Estes Valley. Any alterations or adjustments
to the platform will be funded through grant funds. Overall, the collaboration with
ECCLC/LCCF will provide:
•Efficient and streamlined application process that coordinates with other county-wide
platforms
•Alignment with long-term goals and county-wide assistance strategies
•Offer existing administrative and technical support
Allocating an annual budget of 6E funds to LCCF will provide stable and familiar
assistance to Estes Valley households.
Advantages:
•Pursuing the objectives outlined in the 6E Ballot Initiative and Funding Plan, as well as
the Childcare Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan
•Additional families receiving assistance will allow childcare providers to increase tuition
rates and increase overall revenue
Disadvantages:
•Administrative costs to ECCLC. However, these costs will be lower than building a
stand-alone program or administering a public program through the Town.
Finance/Resource Impact:
To be determined.
Level of Public Interest
Moderate.
Attachments:
1. Presentation
Childcare Tuition
Assistance
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Tuition Assistance
Allows childcare providers to
receive full tuition while parents
pay a portion based on their
income, called a parent fee.
ATTACHMENT 1
Childcare Tuition
..is not equal to the cost of care.
Cost of Care: the actual cost to provide care for each child
Tuition (price): the amount that is charged to families
Tuition Rate
per week State of CO Larimer County Estes Valley COST OF CARE
Infant $375 $326.58 $275 $490 per week
Toddler $315 $319.83 $275-325 $400 per week
Preschool $265 $302.50 $260 $330 per week
Tuition Rates and Cost of Care
Impact on Providers
●Money is lost when providers cannot charge close
enough to the actual “cost of care”
●Childcare providers are subsidizing revenue by not
charging tuition near the cost of care
●By keeping tuition rates low/affordable for families,
they oftentimes need to cut expenditures by paying
staff lower wages
An Estes Park Family
Low-income Working Family
●Family of five
●$4,000 monthly income
●One child in toddler childcare
●$50/day tuition
●Affordable childcare is no more than 7% of a family’s
income as defined by US Department of Health and
Human Services
●No more than $280 per month
Family of 5 making approximately $4,000 per month.
One toddler in childcare.
Increased Tuition Rates
An Estes Park Family
Middle-income Working Family
●Family of five
●$10,000 monthly income
●One child in toddler childcare
●$50/day tuition
●A family should pay no more than 10% of their
monthly income on childcare
●No more than $1,000
Family of 5 making approximately $10,000 per month.
One toddler in childcare.
Increase
Provider Revenue
Increase
Tuition Rates
Increase
Assistance
Current
Landscape
Nearly half of Estes Valley families
in the school district are
considered “low-income”
Majority of families in the Estes
Valley work in education, health, or
social assistance.
Approximately 100 children in
middle-income, working families
need childcare.
62% of parents with children under
6 are both working
93%
of survey respondents who did not have their
child enrolled in care, said if it was available at
a cost they could afford they would enroll
their child.
Future Projections
2023 Current Demand
Infant & Toddler 22 86
Preschool 118 136
Lacking 64 spots for children under 2.
Future Projections
2023 Current Demand 2030 Needs
Infant & Toddler 22 86 156
Preschool 118 136 159
Universal Pre-K
Colorado Childcare Assistance Program
Larimer County Childcare Fund
EVICS Childcare Scholarship
Public and Private Assistance
Programs
...and everything in between.
Cost Modeling
Priorities
●What is budgeted for each income level to serve
current children in childcare?
●Additional children as childcare spots increase?
●What 6E dollars are budgeted for tuition assistance
annually?
●What’s the local cost of care?
●What are appropriate tuition rates for the Estes
Valley?
●How is this aligned with reimbursement rates for providers?
Program Build-out
Priorities
●Complementary and braided public and private
assistance programs
●Streamlined application process
●High level of sophistication in policy development and
data tracking
●Administration costs and staff resources required
Staff Recommendation
Prioritize the use of the Buell
Grant funds to cost model
and develop a program under
the existing BridgeCare
platform in collaboration
with ECCLC.
Discussion
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S
OFFICE
Report
To: Honorable Mayor Hall
Board of Trustees
From: Town Administrator Machalek
Date: September 24, 2024
RE: Noise Ordinance
Purpose of Study Session Item:
Gather feedback from the Town Board sufficient to generate a draft of an updated noise
ordinance.
Town Board Direction Requested:
•What decibel limits does the Town Board want to use in the updated noise
ordinance?
•Should Town-owned events be exempted from the ordinance, or subject to a
variance process?
•Should a variance process exist outside of the night-work permitting process?
•Does the Board want specific decibel-based limitations on waste collection or the
use of domestic power tools and/or lawn and garden equipment?
•Should there be an escalation of fines for multiple tickets within a one-year
period?
Present Situation:
Over the past year, the Town has received feedback from members of the public
expressing concerns with the current noise ordinance. Specific concerns include the
lack of a quantitative decibel standard, the ability of the Town Engineer to issue permits
for overnight construction work (instead of the Town Board), and the lack of
enforcement of the unreasonable noise standard. In response to these concerns, the
Town Board asked staff to explore options for making changes to the Town’s existing
noise regulations.
At the June 11, 2024 Study Session, the Board indicated continued support for a hybrid
approach to noise enforcement, utilizing both an unreasonable noise standard and a
decibel-based standard. The Board also supported moving the responsibility for
approving permits for overnight construction work to the Town Board. There was no
consensus at that meeting as to whether the Town’s own events should be subject to
the provisions of the new ordinance, or whether they would continue to be exempted
under the code.
Proposal:
The primary area where staff needs Town Board direction is in the setting of new
decibel limits. Staff has identified three paths forward for decibel limits:
•Use the limits described in State Law (C.R.S. 25-12-103), measured 25 feet from
the property line.
Zone 7:00 a.m. to next 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. to next 7:00 a.m.
Residential 55 db(A) 50 db(A)
Commercial 60 db(A) 55 db(A)
Light Industrial 70 db(A) 65 db(A)
Industrial 80 db(A) 75 db(A)
•Use the limits from the Town’s last decibel-based ordinance (2016), measured
25 feet from the property line.
Zone 7:00 a.m. to next 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. to next 7:00 a.m.
Residential 80 db(A) 80 db(A)
Commercial 80 db(A) 80 db(A)
Light Industrial 80 db(A) 80 db(A)
Industrial 80 db(A) 80 db(A)
•Articulate different limits based on Town Board judgement (a Decibel Level
Comparison Chart from the American Academy of Audiology is attached for
reference).
In addition to feedback on decibel limits, there are a number of areas where Board
feedback would facilitate the efficient drafting of an updated ordinance:
•Does the Board want to replace the blanket exception for “Town authorized or
sponsored events including, but not limited to, parades, fireworks displays,
concerts, and events at Stanley Park, Bond Park, or Performance Park”, with a
requirement for annual approval of these exceptions by the Board?
•Does the Board want to establish a variance process that would allow the Board
to consider exceptions to the noise ordinance?
•Does the Board want to establish specific decibel-based limitations on waste
collection or the use of domestic power tools and/or lawn and garden equipment?
•Does the Board want to establish an escalating fine structure for multiple tickets
within a one-year period?
•Are there any other new provisions that the Board would like added to the
existing noise ordinance?
Finance/Resource Impact:
Decibel-based enforcement would require an investment in both decimeters and
training. Staff estimates that a new type-2 decibel meter costs between $2,000 and
$3,000. The main resource impact associated with a decibel-based standard is training
enforcement personnel on how to measure sound and testify to it, as well as the time
spent enforcing. Based on information from the City and County of Denver, staff would
expect at least a week of training on enforcement alone.
Level of Public Interest
High.
Attachments
1. Decibel Level Comparison Chart
2. Presentation
ATTACHMENT 1
Noise Ordinance
Town Board Study Session
09/24/2024
Agenda
Objective
Current Direction
Open Questions
Decibel Limits
Other
Next Steps
1
2
ATTACHMENT 2
Objective
Confirm whether the Board wishes to move forward with
an update to the current noise ordinance.
If so, gather feedback sufficient to generate a first draft
of an updated noise ordinance for the first Study Session
in November.
Current Direction
Hybrid approach (include both decibel and unreasonable
noise standards)
Night work approvals move from Town Engineer to Town
Board
3
4
Open Questions – Decibel Limits
Three options
State limits
Prior Town limits (2016)
Other (Town Board direction)
Exceptions
Existing exceptions in Municipal Code (8.06.040)
Any changes?
Open Questions – Decibel Limits
State Limits (measured 25 feet from the property line)
7:00 p.m. to next 7:00 a.m.7:00 a.m. to next 7:00 pmZone
50 db(A)55 db(A)Residential
55 db(A)60 db(A)Commercial
65 db(A)70 db(A)Light Industrial
75 db(A)80 db(A)Industrial
5
6
Open Questions – Decibel Limits
Prior Town Limits (2016) (measured 25 feet from the property line).
7:00 p.m. to next 7:00 a.m.7:00 a.m. to next 7:00 pmZone
80 db(A)80 db(A)Residential
80 db(A)80 db(A)Commercial
80 db(A)80 db(A)Light Industrial
80 db(A)80 db(A)Industrial
Open Questions – Decibel Limits
Other
7:00 p.m. to next 7:00 a.m.7:00 a.m. to next 7:00 pmZone
Residential
Commercial
Light Industrial
Industrial
7
8
Open Questions – Other
Town events exempted?
Variance process other than night work?
Limitations on waste collection?
Escalation of fines for multiple tickets within a year?
Decibel limitation on domestic power tools and lawn and
garden equipment?
Other changes desired?
Next Steps
Staff will draft an updated noise ordinance;
Board discuss draft noise ordinance at November 12 Study
Session;
Final ordinance to Board for consideration on December
10.*
*The Board could direct staff to combine the second and third bullet, and bring a draft
ordinance forward for consideration on November 12.
9
10
PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED ON 9/19/2024
Board of Trustees Public Comment
Name: Fred Barber
Stance on Item: Neutral
Agenda Item Title: General Public Comment.
Public Comment:
The Town Board has historically justified the lack of routine public comment at Study Sessions based on
the claim that no decisions are made at Study Sessions. With that in mind, I would like to draw your
attention to the Noise Ordinance item on this week's agenda. Under the topic "Town Board Direction
Requested", Administrator Machalek asks for input on five aspects of a proposed new ordinance. I contend
that provision of any such input constitutes decision-making by the Board and should not be undertaken
without public input, especially on an issue of "high" public interest. Yes, a hearing will be held on whatever
ordinance proposal emerges, but by then options will have been limited and Trustee opinions will have
been made up. Yes, a citizen can submit an unsolicited comment like this, even for the Board's regular
meeting immediately following the Study Session, but by then the Board's direction will have been given
and is unlikely to be changed. This is inappropriate.
File Upload
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PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED ON 9/23/2024
Board of Trustees Public Comment
Name: Mark Newman
Stance on Item: Neutral
Agenda Item Title: General Public Comment.
Public Comment:
With regards to the study session on "Noise Ordinance" we are hopeful the town will no-longer allow
speakers to blast music on the sidewalks of Moraine Ave. We support time restrictions for any exterior
music, ideally not allowed before 11AM and ideally not after 10PM creating an enforceable hard stop on
loud music in the patios of the many bars on Moraine Ave. As early as 8 or 9 AM when employees of THE
BARREL start work and turn on exterior speakers and residents cannot open windows w/o hearing the
music echo thru our homes. It is not uncommon for towns to create measurable volume levels for
businesses to abide by. Many of these towns are very successful in attracting viable business and tourists.
EP residents already have a significant increase in truck noise echoing off the mnt. with the new highway
running through W. Riverside. Any support to reduce noise and try to retain some of the character and
charm of the downtown area would be appreciated.
File Upload
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the item which it references.
Files are limited to PDF or JPG.
25 MB limit. Video files cannot be saved to the final packet and must be transcribed before submitting.
RECEIVED
Sr-23ZG;'4
m._.-j:^^_...
To Whom It May Concern:
A noise ordinance discussion has been set for the Town Board Study Session this coming Tuesday, 9/24 at
5:30 pm. Let's turn out to hear what the Board is considering and might envision in this regard. For this
issue, in particular, there is a whole lot of concern for much needed change. There is much to be
recognized, sustained, preserved, in this domain.
Estes Park lives and rests in a graceful valley nestled along streams and tributaries flowing down from
high in the mountains along the Continental Divide west of here. Forested hills, cliffs and gradual
mountain slopes, meadows and moraines provide the texture of residual life, which grew here before
and will continue long after all visitors have journeyed down-canyon to another home.
"Noise," the element of concern coming now before the Trustees, the Mayor and Citizens of the Town of
Estes Park, emerges from humanity and our/their stuff. This includes: audible speech, intrusive
vehicular emissions, the friction of heavy loads moving on the road bed, over-flight sounds from air
traffic, construction machinery in transit and in use, uncontained industrial and domestic operations,
audible entertainment, concerts, sporting and recreational events, large gatherings with PA systems,
barking dogs and other expressive domestic animals. Such invasive components of intrusive sound
arrive in this valley from down the canyon and afar, bringing to mind the misguided system of transit,
commerce and delivery by which the oppressive elements of noise arrive here, and in every other corner
of the world in the first place.
May the people give voice to nature's prerogative to set the standards for our "noise." We humans
are guests ourselves. Similar, yet for now nothing like the existential elements of this valley, this
land! Let's help make our town proud of its role in addressing this profound dilemma! The rule of law,
whether expressed as ethics, faith, personal conviction, municipal code, state or federal statute, is our
guide for living in harmony with, as part of, the natural world.
Please show up at 5:30 on Tuesday at Town Hall, where a "noise ordinance" will be on the agenda. Who
would dream of turning this valley into another Mecca, a car lot or a shopping mall? Is Estes Park fated
to become a burgeoning retreat center where the confluence of mass humanity will be acknowledged
and accepted as a fait accompli? Are we on the verge of allowing "noise" to be the ubiquitous partner
in every phase of our own development? Let's protect this valley, as the truly significant place it is.
First by listening to and hearing the sounds of nature, then by acknowledging this to be the voice we are
actually here to harmonize with.
In peace,a^—
fohn Guffey
EstesPark,CO 80517
PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED ON 9/23/2024
Town Clerk <townclerk@estes.org>
Fwd: Noise study session
1 message
Kirby Hazelton <khazelton@estes.org>Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 2:56 PM
To: Town Clerk <TownClerk@estes.org>
Hi Bunny, Jackie, and Rachel,
Could you please forward this to the Town Board to be included with public comment for the study session today? I
apologize that it's coming so late from me.
Thank you,
Kirby
Kirby Nelson-Hazelton
Town of Estes Park Trustee
khazelton@estes.org
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Reed Woodford <reedwoodford@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 23, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Subject: Noise study session
To: Kirby Hazelton <khazelton@estes.org>
Hey Kirby,
I know there’s a study session on noise tomorrow. Wanted to submit my comments to you. Full Throttle and the Barrel
have been really loud again this summer. Louder than past years, even if it’s in the hours where it’s allowed. Most nights
during the summer we can hear the music that’s playing at Full Throttle in our house with doors and windows closed. It’s
been really hard. Especially with the baby, sleep is already rare and the bars down there are making life harder. Even on
regular weeknights the Bass coming from the Barrel can be heard in our bedroom, even with a white noise machine
going.
It’s frustrating because it’s been an issue for years now and it doesn’t seem like there’s any traction.
Thanks,
Reed
PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED 2024-09-24
Town Clerk <townclerk@estes.org>
Work product
1 message
Marie Cenac <mcenac@estes.org>Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 9:01 AM
To: Town Clerk <TownClerk@estes.org>
Please past this along to the other trustees, Travis, and Dan
Decibel Chart: All You Need to Know
May 7, 2024 by Carly Sygrove
PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED 2024-09-24
October 8, 2024
•Commercial/Residential Insurance
Overview
October 22, 2024
•Water 102 – System Conditioning
•Massage Therapist Licensing
•Arborist Licensing
November 12, 2024
•Utility Rates for Service Areas Outside of
Town
•Annexation Overview
•Hosted Short-Term Rentals
December 10, 2024
•Liquor License Process
Items Approved – Unscheduled:
•Parking Enforcement Ordinance Updates
•Curb and Gutter Philosophy
•Stanley Park Master Plan Implementation
Items for Town Board Consideration:
•Rodeo Update
•VEP Dark Skies Initiative
•Noise Ordinance
Future Town Board Study Session Agenda Items
September 24, 2024